Steele: Arlen Specter Left GOP To "Further His Personal Political Interests"

Republican National Committee chair Michael Steele was speedy and harsh in his reaction to the news that Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Penn.) would switch parties.

"Some in the Republican Party are happy about this. I am not," he said. "Let's be honest -- Senator Specter didn't leave the GOP based on principles of any kind. He left to further his personal political interests because he knew that he was going to lose a Republican primary due to his left-wing voting record. Republicans look forward to beating Sen. Specter in 2010, assuming the Democrats don't do it first."

In an interview with CNN, Steele added that Specter "flip[ped] the bird" at the GOP leadership. "For the senator to flip the bird back to Senator Cornyn and the Republican Senate Leadership, a team that stood by him, who went to the bat for him in 2004, to save his hide is not only disrespectful but down right rude," he said.

"I'm sure his mama didn't raise him this way," Steele added. "If Sen. Specter survives in the fall -- get ready to go to the mat, baby, because we're coming after you and taking you out."

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Comments

[slj316]

Why does Michael Steele speak as if politics is like an episode of The Sopranos or The Godfather? He still doesn't get it that he's not in charge of anything. Steele needs permission from Don Rush Corleone before he can say anything. Spector left the GOP because of the direction that Limbaugh, Hannity, Palin, O'Reiley and the rest of the wingnuts were taking the party. I'm happy that the rest of the country is getting to see what we Maryland residents already knew. That Michael Steele isn't fit to be dog catcher and that he's doing a good job at steering the RNC into the iceburg. Or did the RNC Titanic already hit the iceburg?

[MsMandy]

Why is it that every time Steele speaks it he has to include the word "baby"? We get it, Steele, you're "hip-hip cool"...

[AlanRockville]

Regarding Steele (I'm a Maryland resident, same as Michael): It's too bad that he has such little influence. He couldn't win his own state in 2006, now he can't win over one guy from a neighboring state. Apparently Joe Biden has more pull than Steele. In his mass email that I received, Steele "doesn't believe a word he (Specter) said" when the Senator explained his move as ideological. So whom does Steele believe? Only those who agree with his party's platform? Even if Specter was doing this to get re-elected, so what? I'm sure Steele was supporting Specter's opponent, in which case, what would you expect Specter to do (yep, who's the one not playing team-ball here)?

Regarding Specter: I wish him well, my guess is that he will retire after his next term. He has always, always been a role model of civility, even when I have disagreed with his views. Of course, his switch could be the straw that breaks the camel's back for a filibuster-proof Senate, just as much as the election of Jim Webb in 2006 was an incredible watershed moment.

After Specter's announcement, I donated to Al Franken's campaign - I wasn't sure up to that point that a donation would be productive. But given the way the extreme right has unabashedly tried to make Obama fail, I felt I had to do something.

[deebell]

Sure, Mikey, and you kissed Rush's butt for the exact same reason.

[bustitbaby]

Since Michael Steele has taken over the RNC, his party lost a very important special Congressional election in NY, a senator from PA leaves the Republican party and in a matter of weeks, hisparty is going to lose a senate seatin Minneosta.

Things are looking up for 2010, baby!

[tbone99]

Of course Steele is not furthering his own political interest, he's furthering his own ECONOMIC interest. The guy hasn't been able to hold a job for years.

[eliasboudit]

Spector has proven himself to be another opportunist::


March 17th 2009 Interview with The Hill:

In a March 17th interview with The Hill, Specter said he absolutely would not switch parties:

[Democrats] are trying very hard for the 60th vote. Got to give them credit for trying. But the answer is no.

I'm not going to discuss private talks I had with other people who may or may not be considered influential. But since those three people are in the public domain, I think it is appropriative to respond to those questions.

I am staying a Republican because I think I have an important role, a more important role, to play there. The United States very desperately needs a two-party system. That's the basis of politics in America. I'm afraid we are becoming a one-party system, with Republicans becoming just a regional party with so little representation of the northeast or in the middle atlantic. I think as a governmental matter, it is very important to have a check and balance. That's a very important principle in the operation of our government. In the constitution on Separation of powers.



So much for his being true to himself and his party eh? lol

[IndianaJohn]

He changed his mind.

[AfterSomeThought]

"The United States very desperately needs a two-party system. That's the basis of politics in America...as a governmental matter, it is very important to have a check and balance...in the constitution on Separation of powers."

Again, Specter, Steele and all the GOP are showing incredible ignorance of our political system - that, or they are hoping that we, the people, are ignorant. There is NO requirement or basis for checks and balances WITHIN the legislative branch, excepting a few powers that the House and Senate split. The three branches of government keep each other in balance using C&Bs, not within the Congress. WE, the voters, are their balance - if they screw up, we vote them out.

On the flipside, if one side is becoming a commanding majority, it is because WE voted that way, and we expect he to take the country in a certain direction. The GOP didn't care about the two-party system when they had a commanding majority - or even a slim majority - all we heard then is that they had a "mandate from the American people."

They just use this as an excuse to mislead voters into the idea that the GOP deserves a substantial political voice no matter how crackpot or extreme they become. They're wrong - get in touch or you WILL fade away. See the wiki on "Defunct political parties in the US" for 89 clear examples.

[Josh Peters]

At first, I thought this was a self serving move to cement another term in office, and part of me still believes such, but I trudged over to Project Vote Smart to dig up some old lead on the guy, and Arlen is damn near down the middle of the aisle. To be frank, and in a somewhat apologetic manner, I see where Senator Specter is coming from, and understand his decision to "jump ship" as it were. With all the mayhem going about in the Republican ranks it is no wonder that they have started to lose the middle ground. The largest functioning body in the republican party were the fiscal conservatives with liberal social ties. We believed in smaller government, less waste, and less invasive digs into our personal lives. With Ahab...ahem, Steele at the helm, the party is being driven onto the rocks (or a shoal, or a reef, take your pick) in short order. The presidential election was an indicator that the middle was moving left. It was only a matter of time before representatives of that middle-ground philosophy moved with the masses.

[deebell]

I don't think the middle is moving left.

I think the right is just getting farther and farther to the right that the middle just looks a long way away.

[PepperzMom]

Hmmm...looks around....­nope,haven­'t seen it yet...not even from Steele/Ret­humpered..­..so here goes:

I guess you could say, Specter pulled a "Benedict Arlen"!!!!!!!!!!!

:)

[plaidsportcoat]

WHAA??? The guy's 99 years old. Is he going to run for Granpresident?

[glockman]

I posted this on another string, thought I'd post it here too. It's interesting to hear all the responses.

Here are a few words from Specter in an interview with The Hill:

There is a video of him saying these very words. What a spineless, gutless wonder. Seems he'll do anything to stay in power.

"Democrats] are trying very hard for the 60th vote. Got to give them credit for trying. But the answer is no.

I'm not going to discuss private talks I had with other people who may or may not be considered influential. But since those three people are in the public domain, I think it is appropriative to respond to those questions.

"I am staying a Republican because I think I have an important role, a more important role, to play there. The United States very desperately needs a two-party system. That's the basis of politics in America. I'm afraid we are becoming a one-party system, with Republicans becoming just a regional party with so little representation of the northeast or in the middle atlantic. I think as a governmental matter, it is very important to have a check and balance. That's a very important principle in the operation of our government. In the constitution on Separation of powers."

http://briefingroom.thehill.com/2009/04/28/specter-had-disavowed-a-switch/

[grf67]

You are doing a heck of a job, Mike. The GOP is falling apart around you. Threatening a Senator is not a path to success in this country and it is only a matter of time until the GOP flushes you.

[Fremon]

This man has been a Republican for a long time. Granted, that the GOP has shifted ground and may not be the party that Specter joined any longer. BUT, I hope the Democratic leader ship goes all out for Specter in any upcoming election. It is my understanding that there is a good PA Democratic Rep wanting to run (former Admiral) and I hope the people get to decide. I don't want to belong to a party that is told who to vote from by the leadership. They tried that with Lieberman and that did not augur well. I would also like to see the people of CT making up their minds about Liberman and vote him out if possible. He and Specter were not friends to the Democrats during the past Bush adminstration rule. POWER TO THE PEOPLE.

[glockman]

". I don't want to belong to a party that is told who to vote from by the leadership"

Hate to break it to you, but you are. Both parties are the same way.

[mrgoodbar]

"Get ready to go to the mat, baby, because we're coming after you and taking you out." Is Steele now being coached by Mike Tyson?

[IndianaJohn]

Don't let him near your ears.

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

I'm sure that Michael Steele's mama didn't raise him to be a Republican- I bet they were fine people who are amazed that he is scared to say anything nasty about Rush Limbaugh- I bet they taught him to speak his mind- and be an honest man.
Why Michael you are funny and yes people are laughing at you - so pull it together -

you guys are off the track and on the way to a train wreck-- and golly be- ya don't even see it-
yup you are facing a major dilemma and more to come- clean up your act- the old games don't work the past is dead- enter the 21 Century with fresh ideas- honest ones-- for the people not the privileged.

OmBama,

Ed